Rostraver police set to add K-9 officer
Rostraver Township Police Department will soon have a new four-legged officer after the board of commissioners Wednesday passed a resolution to re-establish the K-9 program.
The program will be funded by a $13,750 grant from the Charles P. and Alison C. Tucker Family Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation. The grant will be used to purchase a trained narcotics and patrol dog and will include a six-week handler course from Shallow Creek Kennels Inc. of Sharpsville.
Police Chief Greg Resetar said the reimplementation has been a long time coming. “We had a K-9 officer for long time and after the death of the last one in 2008, we wanted to reimplement the program. It takes a lot of time and training to reimplement. There are many aspects to look at in the situation,” he said.
He added some of the things to consider include the officer’s physical condition for the training, finding a fit between the dog’s personality and temperament and the officer, and determining if the officer can provide a home for the dog for at least a seven-year period.
The department discontinued the K-9 program in 2008 with the death of Hero. The dog is expected to be in service by the end of November. Some of the dog’s duties will help to assist in criminal apprehensions, tracking of a missing person, area searches, building searches and vehicle searches, and narcotics detection in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana.
“A canine is extra tool for us. In this day and age, the dog will be able to better assist us narcotics and other police activities,” Resetar said. “A K-9 officer is also added safety for our officers. Having a K-9 is also a great public relations tool for the school and community.”
In other news, commissioners adopted an amendment to the zoning ordinance to change lots on Allen Drive from suburban residential to a gricultural for the Belle Vernon Cemetery proposed office.
Belle Vernon Cemetery Superintendent Thomas Hewitt said the cemetery purchased the lots, on Allen Drive, which included a house, for $200,000. The current cemetery office on Tranquility Lane will be demolished and the property will be used for burial plots. Hewitt said moving to the new office will take about a year, after the building has been upgraded to become handicapped accessible.